Art as Infrastructure: A Conversation on Social Practice, Community, and the Evolving Role of Nonprofit Art Spaces in Los Angeles

In this compelling episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza sits down with Pranay Reddy, the director of LA Artcore, for a far-reaching conversation that explores the role of nonprofit art spaces as vital community infrastructure in Los Angeles. With clarity, conviction, and deep sincerity, Reddy offers an unfiltered look at his trajectory from punk and zine culture in suburban Colorado to leading one of the city’s longest-running artist-run institutions.

The conversation traces Reddy’s early exposure to alternative music and DIY media, his education at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and the profound influence of social practice artists on his own sculptural and photographic inquiries. Through personal reflection and institutional critique, Reddy unpacks the realities of inheriting LA Artcore’s legacy and reimagining it for a new generation—one that demands transparency, inclusion, and intentional community-building.

As the city contends with stark inequalities and ongoing housing crises, Reddy’s leadership emphasizes LA Artcore’s position in a broader ecosystem of mutual aid, solidarity, and decolonial cultural work. The discussion touches on the failures of the commercial art fair model, the limitations of traditional museums, and the importance of small-scale, grassroots infrastructures in giving artists room to experiment and be seen.

Reddy shares details about LA Artcore’s upcoming programming, including:

Naman – A self-titled exhibition by a collective of Philippine X diaspora artists, opening March 15, exploring contemporary identity, historical presence, and visibility.

Labkhand Olfatmanesh – A powerful installation centered on grief and grounding practices.

Teamoz – An artist whose research into panda symbolism interrogates the complexities of U.S.–China relations.

Tokyo Exchange Exhibition – Featuring ten artists from Tokyo, reactivating LA Artcore’s longstanding commitment to international dialogue.

Through it all, Reddy reaffirms his belief that artists are conduits of the communities they live and work in—and that art, at its best, is an infrastructure for care, connection, and change.

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